Despite Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and his cartoons being popular and well received at the time, they have been vastly overshadowed over time by succeeding animation characters. It is a shame as, while not cartoon masterpieces, they are fascinating for anybody wanting to see what very old animation looked like.
'Radio Rhythm' is to me quite easily one of the best of the 1931 Oswald cartoons. Not an animation masterpiece, but considering that most of the previous 1931 Oswald cartoons were very little to write home about. Before 'Radio Rhythm', the best 1931 Oswald cartoons were 'The Farmer' and particularly 'The Bandmaster', 'Country School' was also decent. The rest, especially 'Northwoods', are mediocre at best, despite most having good animation.
The story is basically little more than an excuse to string alone the musical interludes, there is little if anything to it.
A vast majority of the gags hit the mark and none of them misfire as such, but a couple could have had sharper timing. Sound is occasionally a little muffled.
On the other hand, the animation is good. may occasionally lack refinement, but most of it is smooth and detailed with Oswald's movements, gestures and expressions still very much natural. Drawings are fine and there is little if any choppiness or incompleteness.
Even better is the music, so catchy and has such an infectious energy that toe tapping and singing along is likely to happen. While not exactly imaginative, other cartoons have similar concepts and do more with them, the gags are still very amusing and much of the pacing is lively with good synchronisation.
Oswald has lost none of his endearing factor and the support characters are pretty fun.
In conclusion, pretty good and better than most of the 1931 batch of Oswald cartoons. 7/10 Bethany Cox
